DISCUSSIONS to extend the Oyster card scheme into residential areas surrounding London have been held – but Potters Bar rail passengers will have to wait and see if that includes them.

Following the introduction in January of Oyster pay-as-you-go fares on National Rail routes throughout the capital, Mayor of London Boris Johnson has met with rail company bosses for talks on how to further improve Greater London’s transport services.

Mr Johnson, Transport for London (TfL) and train companies have agreed to look at improving fares, customer information, station standards, service frequency and planning for future growth.

And among the latest suggestions is a plan to add a seventh “zone” to London’s transport network for nearby suburban areas outside of the capital.

But a spokesman for the Mayor’s office said the decision to join the Oyster scheme would be down to the rail operator managing the station. And the plan was not given a ringing endorsement by First Capital Connect, which manages Potters Bar station.

A spokesman said: “We would be happy to work to support the Department for Transport and TfL into any review of the London fare zones.

“However, the present zonal structure has worked well for the last 19 years and expanding the fare zone would mean a major change to industry processes and systems.”